When you’re choosing wood flooring, you’re highly likely at some point to find yourself spinning in circles with all the terms that you need to understand in order to make the right decisions. You’ll be faced with a choice between engineered and solid flooring, different grades of wood, finishes, decisions about board thicknesses, plank widths and plank lengths, but one of the most fundamental choice you need to make is the species of wood you want.
No matter whether you’re plumping for solid or engineered wood flooring, you’ll need to make a choice on the species of wood that best suits your project. It’s for this reason that we thought a review of a range of hardwood species for flooring might be helpful. Here are some of the main species you’ll come across with a short description of their characteristics:
Oak
Oak is a great species of wood to choose for flooring, no matter whether you’re seeking to add charm to a traditional interior or to create a clean backdrop for a modern styling option. With colours ranging from light greyish tones to darker honey colours, oak wood flooring is an attractive and hardwearing flooring option. This species comes in a whole range of finishes and grades and is popular because it’s so affordable.
Walnut
Walnut is arguably one of the most versatile hardwoods on earth. The walnut tree grows to a height of up to 100 feet and sports a really broad leaf canopy. The wood that comes from the walnut tree is highly popular because it’s really durable and dark, sometimes looking almost black. Even though the overall look is dark, when you look at walnut close up, it has a real contrast of light and dark and this makes it really interesting. The ideal enhancement to any interior style, walnut wood flooring is a great, long-term investment.
Teak
A highly popular, albeit expensive wood, teak is commonly associated with decking, but can equally be used in flooring projects. An extremely stable wood, teak has exceptional resistance to moisture making it a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms. It typically sports a rich, reddish brown colour with a regular grain.
Iroko
Iroko looks very like teak and is in fact often called African or Nigerian Teak. It’s durable and is a tropical hardwood that is found mainly on the east and west coasts of Africa. Sporting an irregular grain and a course texture it’s typically a medium golden brown colour. Highly resistant to moisture and temperature changes, this option is ideal for bathrooms and kitchens.
Ash
Ash wood comes from the ash tree, which has up to 60 different species that are typically found in Europe, as well as some parts of north-west Asia. Ash wood is particularly hard and falls into one of two different categories: sapwood and heartwood. The sapwood of ash tends to be almost white and the heartwood can be anything from warm beige to dark brown. Although the grain on ash wood is apparent, it’s less apparent than on the likes of oak.
Maple
Maple is a tree that produces both hard and soft wood, however, even maple softwood is quite. In fact hard maple is so hard that woodworkers say it can be sometimes prove difficult to work with. Maple comes with a naturally straight grain, which makes it particularly stable. What’s more, a bonus of maple is that it tends to be less expensive than the majority of the other hard woods, however it’s not all that readily available.
Bamboo
Although technically not even a wood, bamboo behaves just like hardwood, which is why we’ve included it here. A ‘wood’ flooring option that’s growing in popularity, bamboo is technically a grass. It’s environmentally friendly because it grows so quickly. Strong, durable and resistant to moisture and bugs, bamboo in its natural state is as tough as the likes of oak. However, the treatment process that is used for bamboo makes it less durable. It’s typically a light colour, but can be tinted to take on darker shades. Because of the way bamboo flooring is constructed, the grain is not particularly apparent.
Here are the characteristics of these hardwoods “at a glance”:
| Price | Availability | Natural Colour | Grain | Durability | |
| Oak | Low to high | High | Light to dark | Highly apparent | High |
| Walnut | Mid to high | Mid to high | Dark | Regular | High |
| Teak | High | Mid to high | Dark with reddish tones | Regular | High |
| Iroko | Low to mid | High | Medium | Irregular | Mid to high |
| Ash | Mid to high | Mid to high | Almost white to dark | Apparent | High |
| Maple | High | Low | Light to dark | Apparent | High |
| Bamboo | Low | Mid to high | Light | n/a due to its construction | Low to mid |
If you’d like any help to choose the right hardwood for your project, why not get in touch or leave your comment below.
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FAQ
Q: What are the main hardwood species for flooring?
A: When it comes to hardwood flooring, some popular species include oak, walnut, teak, iroko, ash, maple, and bamboo. Each species has its own characteristics, such as color variations, grain patterns, durability, and availability.
Q: What are the characteristics of oak wood flooring?
A: Oak wood flooring offers a range of colors, from light greyish tones to darker honey colors. It is an attractive and hardwearing option, suitable for both traditional and modern interiors. Oak wood is available in various finishes and grades, making it affordable and versatile.
Q: What are the characteristics of walnut wood flooring?
A: Walnut wood flooring is highly durable and known for its dark appearance, sometimes almost black. It exhibits a contrast of light and dark when observed closely. Walnut is a versatile hardwood that adds a touch of elegance to any interior style.
Q: Can teak be used as a wood flooring option?
A: Although commonly associated with decking, teak can also be used for wood flooring. It is an expensive but highly durable wood species. Teak has exceptional resistance to moisture, making it a suitable choice for kitchens and bathrooms. It typically features a rich, reddish brown color with a regular grain.
Q: What are the characteristics of bamboo flooring?
A: Bamboo flooring, technically a grass, has gained popularity as an environmentally friendly option. It is strong, durable, and resistant to moisture and bugs. Bamboo’s natural state is tough, similar to oak, but the treatment process makes it less durable. The grain in bamboo flooring is not particularly apparent due to its construction.